Three remanded for dealing in pirated Copyright works

Accra, Aug. 03, GNA - The Copyright Office and the law enforcement agencies together with the Video and Film Producers Association of Ghana have arrested three Nigerians for dealing in locally produced pirated audio and audiovisual works in Tema.

The three, Joe Oreki, John Upkai and Dennis Opasi, have been remanded in police custody by the Tema Circuit Court to reappear on the August 15.

A release signed by Mr Alfred Kumi-Atiemo, Assistant Director of the Copyright Office, said items seized were mainly locally produced audiovisual works.

The statement said the Tema Community 1 District Police Commander, Superintendent Mr S.K. Tetteh, said he received information from stakeholders that some people were selling pirated works at the Community 1 market.

"We therefore quickly mobilized our men and moved in at that night and in the process the police arrested the three Nigerian suspects who had displayed large quantities of assorted pirated audiovisual works." In the release, Mr Bernard Bosumprah, Copyright Administrator, said the Ghana Police Service had been helpful in clamping down on activities of pirates.

He said the anti-piracy exercise was now being carried out at night instead of the day because those who dealt in such pirated works had shifted their activities to the night in order to avoid the Copyright Office taskforce.

The Copyright Administrator said three of such joint night anti-piracy operations organised in less than two weeks at the Overhead Bridge at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Kaneshie Market, Centre Maria and Sukura in Accra and Tema Community 1 Market caught culprits by surprise. Mr. Bosumprah said the team succeeded not only in seizing pirated audiovisual works but also pornographic materials, including locally acted ones.

He expressed concern at the rate at which pornographic materials were flooding the market.

Mr. Bosumprah appealed to stakeholders and civil society to support the Copyright Office in the fight against pirates. Mr. Kwaku Boakye of Danfo B.A. Production, a film producer, said most pioneers of the Ghanaian movie industry had collapsed as a result of the activities of pirates.

He said the stakeholders would team up with the law enforcement agencies and the Copyright Office to sustain the fight against piracy.